Sam Bell 'ready for more' at Bristol City as Robins set to benefit from FA Cup rule change

Bristol City forward Sam Bell featured in both the first and second rounds of the FA Cup while he was on loan at Wycombe Wanderers

10:20, 08 Jan 2026Updated 08:54, 09 Jan 2026

Bristol City forward Sam Bell in action against Preston North End(Image: EFL)

Sam Bell has shown Bristol City that he is “ready for more” since returning from his loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers, in the eyes of Gerhard Struber, with the Robins set to benefit from a change in the FA Cup rules when they take on Watford in the third round.

The Reds’ first action of the January transfer window was to recall Bell from his loan at Adams Park just hours before their New Year’s Day win over Portsmouth. In his time with the Chairboys, the 23-year-old scored six goals and laid on two assists in just 17 League One matches.

Bell was thrust straight into the matchday squad against Pompey and assisted City’s fourth, after being introduced as a substitute, as Struber’s side ran out 5-0 winners at Ashton Gate. The forward then followed up his bright start to 2026 with a similarly encouraging cameo, albeit in defeat, against Preston North End.

While Struber has been impressed by what he has seen from the academy graduate – whose current contract expires at the end of the season – since his return to the West Country, he’s keen to see him continue to progress and believes that Bell himself wants to do so as well.

“I am happy about it, and of course, also, I expect that,” the head coach said on the forward’s form, since his spell with Wycombe came to an end. “We have to be now on the next level, on the next direction in his career.

“We want him back, especially about that [so] that he can make a difference in his last third with his pace, with his dribbling power, also with his game intelligence, and he should not think too much; he should play and let his quality on the field.

“He’s shown us two times that he’s ready for more, and I like it.

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“I think he can interpret both in a good way,” Struber added when asked if he viewed the 23-year-old more as a striker or a wide player. “But of course, I want him near to the goal, and I want to bring him in the opponent’s box.

“Also, he has a big responsibility for scorer moments, so right now, we need him also in this direction.”

During his time at Adams Park, Bell featured for Wycombe in both the first and second rounds of the FA Cup. The Chairboys beat fellow League One side Plymouth Argyle initially, but saw their campaign brought to an end in the second round by Exeter City – who will now travel to Manchester City in the third round this weekend.

In previous years, the City loanee’s involvement whilst away from Ashton Gate would have meant that he was ‘cup-tied’ on his return to south Bristol, with players typically unable to play for more than one club in the same edition of the FA Cup.

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However, this season, the FA have relaxed such a rule. Players are now able to play for two clubs in the competition, in the same season, or one club in the qualifying round and the tournament proper.

The rather complicatedly worded rule 95 states, ‘A player shall only play for one club in the competition during the same season, save that a player that has played for one club in the qualifying competition and/or the competition proper may play for a maximum of one other club in the competition proper (but may only play for a maximum of one club in any given round of the competition).’

Such a change means that Bell will be available for selection when City kick off their cup campaign against high-flying Watford at Ashton Gate on Saturday afternoon.

Sam Bell ‘ready for more’ at Bristol City as Robins set to benefit from FA Cup rule change

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